Never fear, USA is here!

[USA_916 14]

Hi, do you have room for one more 916 TB owner?

I am one of only three owners with legal GTV TB in the US.

Mine is 1996 Japanese market (LHD) unit, with 83000 KM.

 

 

 

 

[GTV-TB 315]

There is always room for one more TB, hi and welcome.

What a nice looking TB you have it must be a pretty special feel to drive around in a GTV in the US.

[charlee 314]

Only 3 legal owners? Talk about rare...

 

Welcome to the forum! 

[charlee 314]

Has there any work been done on the engine? 

[Thanos 193]

Awesome! Welcome to the forum.

[USA_916 14]

Has there any work been done on the engine? 

 

It seems to have some JDM items in it. I have bunch of maintenance sheets in Japanese, last one at 75000km. 

I feel big cams, because it idles with slight wiggle, but revs up like motorcycle.

Greddy Profec A manual in stack of books that came with the car.

Suspension is Bilstein, some red, lowering springs. 

 

I need some parts, but cannot find good one stop source, just a bunch of clowns.

[trebol 12]

Welcome  to the forum 

[charlee 314]

It seems to have some JDM items in it. I have bunch of maintenance sheets in Japanese, last one at 75000km.

I feel big cams, because it idles with slight wiggle, but revs up like motorcycle.

Greddy Profec A manual in stack of books that came with the car.

Suspension is Bilstein, some red, lowering springs.

I need some parts, but cannot find good one stop source, just a bunch of clowns.

You seem to have got a great example. There were even some special edition of the V6 TB in Japan and they have really cool parts for Alfas. So, who knows what exactly is in the car

Are the valves noisy? Standard Garrett T25?

[Vengeance 3]

It seems to have some JDM items in it. I have bunch of maintenance sheets in Japanese, last one at 75000km. 

I feel big cams, because it idles with slight wiggle, but revs up like motorcycle.

Greddy Profec A manual in stack of books that came with the car.

Suspension is Bilstein, some red, lowering springs. 

 

I need some parts, but cannot find good one stop source, just a bunch of clowns.

 

Red lowering springs would lead me to suggest they are Eibachs?

 

http://shop.alfisti.net/Tuning-Styling/Alfa-GTV-Spider/Suspensions/Eibach-ProKit-Sports-Spring-Kit::1352.html

 

Which are probably the most common lowering springs.

 

Which sites have you tried to source parts from?

[charlee 314]

Forgot to ask. What parts do you need?

[USA_916 14]

Forgot to ask. What parts do you need?

 

Well, thanks for asking!

Here is what I have so far:

- right front wishbone is shot (rear bushing was overheated, or simply gave up), ordered new set from UK, this was the cheap and easy find.

- need all 4 brake rotors and pads, hard to get in US. Mine have 5 lugs, the rest I am not sure about.

- need to change gear oil, but can't find check/filler hole on the transmission. Drain plug is at the differential and there is little dipstick on top of the diff, but something tells me that transmission might have separate oil. So where do I fill transmission and what type of oil do I use, the Amsoil 75-90 perhaps?

- EGT probe in lower exhaust was damaged over some road bump, I restored connection for now, but I need to replace it. Where does it go to, the ECU, or some aftermarket turbo controller? I see red and black wires go under floor, across, to under the dashboard area.

- left rear wheel has some bearing play, could use new bearing.

- both hood struts are weak, I am using american made broom stick for now. 

- coolant tank has developing crack on the edge, might leak in the future.

- all CV boots are old and cracking, one inner boot is broken, those are 28-60mm and 28-96mm.

- see picture of my turbo compressor wheel, while side play is normal, I am not sure how much performance I am missing due to this damage. Where would I source replacement parts, or entire turbo. 

See my chassis plate, I think I have standard version of TB, build is January 25, 1996.

 

Thanks!!!

[USA_916 14]

You seem to have got a great example. There were even some special edition of the V6 TB in Japan and they have really cool parts for Alfas. So, who knows what exactly is in the car

Are the valves noisy? Standard Garrett T25?

Engine is extremely quiet and very pleasant, I expected it to be the usual clicker, like most alfas, but I guess Japanese know how to adjust valves.

[ALXege 75]

Really nice one!

One question though: how come is it legal since there are no... "positioning lights"? hope I'm not mistaking and this is how they are called... (the amber lights that usually sit on the front bumper on the sides)

[USA_916 14]

Lights, are you kidding, I have no MPH on my dial and it is legal. I did not ask questions, I grabbed it and ran:)

Really nice one!

One question though: how come is it legal since there are no... "positioning lights"? hope I'm not mistaking and this is how they are called... (the amber lights that usually sit on the front bumper on the sides)

Edited February 11, 2015 by USA_916

[charlee 314]

You could always get UK clocks to have MPH. But why bother

[kunev 131]

Another TB and it is from USA  .

Welcome to our community  .

Will be more appropriate to start a topic about your car in "Our 916s" section  .

[Paso 239]

GTV in USA! Incredibile! Welcome!

[CornishSteve 15]

Hi and welcome

[moskovsky 13]

Wow! It's surprising where some cars end up. Welcome to the forum! I wanted to ask.. How difficult is it to own a gtv in the US? Regarding parts,servicing etc.? Also.. You said yours is one of 3 legal gtvs in the US. How does one make a car that was never intended for the american market legal? 

Edited March 8, 2015 by moskovsky

[Vengeance 3]

Wow! It's surprising where some cars end up. Welcome to the forum! I wanted to ask.. How difficult is it to own a gtv in the US? Regarding parts,servicing etc.? Also.. You said yours is one of 3 legal gtvs in the US. How does one make a car that was never intended for the american market legal? 

 I guess with Alfa now back in the US market with the 4C the OP may find servicing and parts availability a little easier than say 3 years ago. Then again, with Alfa dealer prices.....maybe not.....

 

Regarding your question about how to get cars legal that weren't intended for the market, I am going to assume that the US is pretty lenient in regards to custom and imported car registration provided the paperwork is all in order?

 

Australia is generally pretty good for this too as most states (including mine) don't have MOTs and therefore provided you import a RHD car (LHD built after 1978 or something must be converted by an approved vehicle modifier to RHD) or use aftermarket parts that don't make the car illegal (i.e lowering a car to a minimum height <100mm if its OE spec was above 100mm in height) then you are all good. You can mod the suspension, tune the engine, put in a bigger engine etc. and there are no issues with registration provided everything on your car would pass the basic regulations like minimum ride height and would stand up to an engineering assessment (which never happens anyway). Hence why I feel sorry for some of our Euro members here, worrying about MOTs etc. when I don't have too

[moskovsky 13]

 I guess with Alfa now back in the US market with the 4C the OP may find servicing and parts availability a little easier than say 3 years ago. Then again, with Alfa dealer prices.....maybe not.....

 

Regarding your question about how to get cars legal that weren't intended for the market, I am going to assume that the US is pretty lenient in regards to custom and imported car registration provided the paperwork is all in order?

 

Australia is generally pretty good for this too as most states (including mine) don't have MOTs and therefore provided you import a RHD car (LHD built after 1978 or something must be converted by an approved vehicle modifier to RHD) or use aftermarket parts that don't make the car illegal (i.e lowering a car to a minimum height <100mm if its OE spec was above 100mm in height) then you are all good. You can mod the suspension, tune the engine, put in a bigger engine etc. and there are no issues with registration provided everything on your car would pass the basic regulations like minimum ride height and would stand up to an engineering assessment (which never happens anyway). Hence why I feel sorry for some of our Euro members here, worrying about MOTs etc. when I don't have too

Well.. As far as I know the UK (and the rest of the EU I guess) is also quite liberal on imports. I've seen many LHD  cars here with british licence plates. However.... Insurance premiums tend to be higher for imported cars. Even if it's the same car   Anyway.. Back to the US.. I asked about the GTV because of the well known Nissan Skyline story... 

[USA_916 14]

To answer importation question, it is not easy to bring car like 916 into US, but there are some cracks from state to state, that allow to do that. For example, Skylines are strictly forbidden for importation, but some cars are OK to bring it, as long as you know how to do the paperwork efficiently. 

About the parts, there are none locally, except for whatever crosses to 164 and Milano, which is very little.

eBay and Google are my best friends, so I pay a lot more for shipping from Europe on every little thing.

 

Insurance is dirt cheap though, since I own 7 cars, 5 of which are collector cars that are used rarely, my overall annual mileage minimal is split among those 5, making full insurance for 916 about $236/year. 

Edited March 11, 2015 by USA_916

[moskovsky 13]

And I suppose the best thing is that a GTV in the US is rarer than a Ferrari.. Now that's what I call exotic   Do people often ask what car it is? Or say stuff like.. I bet my Mustang is better  ?

Edited March 11, 2015 by moskovsky

[USA_916 14]

People do stare all the time and younger kids, in Subarus and Toyota's twist their neck like it's about to snap, staring.

No drag racing offers so far, but yesterday some fellow kept going side by side with me and taking phone pictures.

[Gaincho 57]

Well.. As far as I know the UK (and the rest of the EU I guess) is also quite liberal on imports. I've seen many LHD  cars here with british licence plates. However.... Insurance premiums tend to be higher for imported cars. Even if it's the same car   Anyway.. Back to the US.. I asked about the GTV because of the well known Nissan Skyline story... 

 

 

Spain is different     

 

MOT here is a pain.